New York -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An estimated 1 million people marked the passing of one year and the beginning of another in New York 's Times Square with the descent of an iconic ball .

With the help of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Salvatore A. Giunta , the dazzling crystal ball began its 70-foot drop at 11:59 p.m. Friday to the harmonious chants of New Year 's Eve revelers counting down the final seconds of 2010 .

More than one ton of confetti was released at midnight , with personal individual wishes written in more than 25 languages , a tradition from the past three years .

Weighing in at 11,875 pounds with a diameter of 12 feet , the sparkling sphere is covered with 2,668 triangular crystals and is powered by 32,256 LED lights . By mixing red , blue , green and white light elements , the ball 's lighting system is capable of producing a kaleidoscopic array of 16 million hues and colors , and billions of patterns , the event 's website says .

Each giant New Year 's numeral making up `` 2-0-1-1 '' will stand seven feet high and the numerals will use a total 453 9-watt LED bulbs . As in the past three years , the numerals were designed to be more energy efficient , as Duracell Batteries set up a lab in which visitors rode stationary bikes to provide the stored battery power that will light the numbers on the ball Friday night .

Times Square has served as one of the most popular sites of New Year 's festivities since 1904 , though the New Year 's Eve ball made its inaugural drop down the flagpole at One Times Square in 1907 . That first ball , built with iron and wood , featured one hundred light bulbs and was designed by Jacob Starr , a young immigrant metalworker .

The New Year 's Eve ball has beamed and dropped every year since with the exceptions of 1942 and 1943 , when the United States was embroiled in World War II and New York City observed a city-wide `` dim-out '' to cut energy costs .

According to New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly , this New Year 's Eve celebration , like years in the past , is a product of a lot of hard work and planning by many people .

`` We do n't ever take it for granted , '' Kelly said . `` The situation changes somewhat , we have sort of a core plan but we always add to it or change it -- we do n't want to get stuck in a rut where we simply take a plan off the shelf . ''

As in previous years , security will be tight . Times Square will be closed to traffic at approximately 3 p.m. on Friday . Backpacks and alcohol are prohibited at the event and party-goers can expect a beefed-up police presence , according to the statement from the New York Police Department .

`` It is a big complex operation and you know you always breathe a sigh of relief when it 's over , '' Kelly said .

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NEW : Mayor , medal of honor winner start the ball drop

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Since 1907 , a ball-drop in Times Square has marked the changing of the year

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This year , the ball will have lights that can mix to produce millions of colors